Chronological Reading

Since I don’t write in chronological order, I’ve decided to offer up another (hopefully easier) option that organizes historical posts. This isn’t an exact science since posts can span very different lengths of time, but if you read in this order you should be able to follow along! Going forward, all historical posts will be updated on this list after publication.

Death of the Conqueror – Post covering the significance of the first Norman king’s passing and how he divvied up his domains among his four sons (setting up decades of conflict, naturally)

The Conqueror’s Daughters – So little is known of William and Matilda’s daughters, this post covers who these women were and what role they played in their father’s legacy

Was William II Murdered? – William’s death by “hunting accident” in 1102 has long been suspected as having been a murder, potentially at the hands of his younger brother, Henry I. This post covers what we know what happened in the New Forest that day.

The Almost Saint Matilda of Scotland – Henry I’s first wife and the mother of his children was a Scottish princess with Saxon blood. She is a unique queen consort in that she very nearly was canonized by the Catholic Church.

William Adelin & the White Ship – Henry I’s only legitimate son died in the 12th century’s version of the Titanic. A look at the shipwreck and its dynastic implications are captured in this post.

Geoffrey & Matilda: The Dawn of the Plantagenets – Henry I arranged for the second marriage of his only legitimate daughter to Geoffrey, Count of Anjou. Small problem was that it was an unpopular choice with both his daughter and nearly all of the English magnates.

The Other Matilda – This post covers King Stephen’s wife, Matilda of Boulogne. She is often dwarfed by history thanks to the “other” Matilda, her husband’s political rival.

When Eleanor of Aquitaine Was Queen of France – A look at the years that Eleanor of Aquitaine was married to Louis VII of France, from her arrival in Paris to the crusades to her first meeting with Geoffrey of Anjou and the future Henry II.

King John’s First Marriage – Before his ascended the throne, King John was betrothed to the wealthy heiress Isabel of Gloucester by his father, and bade to marry her by his brother. The moment he took the crown, he divorced her.

The Much-Detested Eleanor of Provence – The wife of Henry III was a lightning rod before and after her life, and the role of her family during her husband’s reign had serious implications for future consorts.

The Younger Brother & Almost King: Edmund Crouchback – A look at the second son of Henry III and Eleanor of Provence. Though his mother tried to install him as the king of Sicily, his life in fact became that of a model “spare” to the heir, his elder brother, Edward I.

The Much-Beloved Eleanor of Castile – The first wife of Edward I was adored by her husband and hated by the public. Indeed, she never bothered to learn English. Her legacy is now remembered by the Eleanor Crosses, elaborate memorials marking her funeral passage.

Edward I’s Second Wife: Marguerite of France – Edward I’s second wife had a shorter tenure than his first, but she was more successful in producing sons and had a surprisingly happy marriage. This post covers her time as queen and Edward I’s last years.

The She-Wolf & Her Victim: Isabelle of France & Edward II – To say Edward II and Isabelle of France had an unhappy marriage would be an understatement. The King spent more time with his male favorites than his wife and fell far short of executing proper governance. Their marriage ended with Isabelle launching a coup with her lover and forcing her husband’s abdication.

Joan of the Tower, Queen of Scotland – Edward II’s youngest daughter ended up queen of Scotland, but unfortunately her position was untenable thanks to none other than her brother, Edward III, and England’s continued war across the border.

The Mother of Too Many Sons: Philippa of Hainaut – Consort to Edward III, Philippa of Hainaut succeeded where so many queens failed: providing her husband with a plethora of sons. Arguably, in light of the dynastic wars that would follow, she had too many.

Joan of England & the Black Death – Edward III and Philippa of Hainaut’s daughter, Joan, was the first royal casualty of the Black Death. The plague caught up with her as she was en-route to marry a prince of Castile.

The First Princess of Wales – This post covers the life of Joan of Kent, from that time she may have “accidentally” been married to two men at the same time, to her unexpected turn as the Black Prince’s wife and mother to Richard II.

The “Good” Parliament & the Death of Edward III – Here we cover the last year of Edward III’s life, from the death of his eldest son, the Black Prince, to the growing calls for government reform in his family’s ongoing strife with Parliament.

Henry IV’s First Wife: Mary de Bohun – Here we cover Henry IV’s wife before he ascended the throne, including the family dynamics of the Lancastrians during the reign of Richard II.

The Original Beaufort Children – The four children of John of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford – John, Henry, Joan and Thomas – went on to have impressive careers that dictated the success of the House of Lancaster.

Lancastrian Blood at the Portuguese Court – John of Gaunt’s daughter, Philippa, was married to the King of Portugal in the middle of his struggle to claim the Castilian throne on her stepmother’s behalf. She ended up a beloved figure and instrumental to an enduring alliance between England and Portugal.

Elizabeth of Lancaster & Her Three Marriages – Bad where her elder sister was good, John of Gaunt’s second daughter ended up married three times, including that time she had to have her father quickly annul one marriage because she was pregnant with another man’s child.

The Child Queen: Isabelle of Valois – As part of an effort to pause war with France, Richard II took the six-year-old Isablle, the King of France’s daughter, as his second wife. Unfortunately for her, her tenure as queen would be brief and she would end up caught up in Richard’s fall from power.

The Usurpation of Henry IV – Here we cover the events leading up to the usurpation of 1399 and the years of simmering resentment between Richard II and Henry IV.

Did Henry IV Repent? – This post covers Henry IV’s last days and the legend that has formed around his death courtesy of chroniclers and Shakespeare.

The Coronation of Katherine of Valois – Wife to the legendary Henry V, Katherine of Valois’s coronation marked a high point in English history thanks to the Treaty of Troyes and featured James I of Scotland, a long-time English prisoner and whose eventual reign would have implications for England’s success in France.

When a Beaufort Married a Stewart – In 1424, Joan Beaufort married King James I of Scotland, tying Scotland to the House of Lancaster and providing yet another royal link for the Beaufort family. This post covers their upbringings, marriage and the impact of James’s assassination in 1437.

Jacqueline of Hainaut & Her Four Husbands – Henry IV’s youngest son, Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, married Jacqueline, Countess of Hainaut without permission and against the interests of England’s alliance with Burgundy. Their marriage was a brief and blazing disaster, but in fact Humphrey was Jacqueline’s third husband and her other three were all unique and politically significant to the face of western Europe.

The Lost Childhood of Marguerite of Anjou – Historians remain divided as to whether Marguerite of Anjou grew up in Anjou or Naples. In this post we cover the House of Anjou and the French political situation that prompted her marriage to Henry VI.

Did John Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset Commit Suicide? – In 1444 John Beaufort died after humiliating losses in France. Rumors have abounded since that he committed suicide. The single legitimate child he left behind, Margaret, ended up the first matriarch of the House of Tudor.

When Marguerite of Anjou Arrived in England – Marguerite of Anjou arrived in England without a dowry, a host of detractors and a lot of promise. In this post, we take a look at her first few years in England and the politics surrounding her marriage to Henry VI.

1452 Was a Hell of a Year – Part One in a series covering the events leading up to and throughout the first half of the Wars of the Roses.

1453: The Lancastrian Heir – Part Two in a series covering the events leading up to and throughout the first half of the Wars of the Roses.

The Madness of Henry VI & His Son – When Henry VI went “mad” in 1453 it proved a breaking point for Lancaster and York, highlighted Marguerite of Anjou’s political mettle and corresponded with the birth of Henry VI’s only child.

The Fidelity of Marguerite of Anjou – Since the birth of her only child, Marguerite of Anjou was faced with gossip that her son wasn’t fathered by her husband, Henry VI. A look at the political context in which these claims were made and cast of characters rumored to be Prince Edward’s biological father.

The Motivation of Richard, Duke of York – Here we take a look at the career of Richard, Duke of York and theorize when his dissatisfaction with Henry VI’s government coalesced into ambition for the throne.

1455: Somerset For Lancaster – Part Four in a series covering the events leading up to and throughout the first half of the Wars of the Roses.

The Matriarch: Cecily Neville, Duchess of York – Richard, Duke of York’s wife, Cecily Neville, was almost queen of England, mother to two kings and an ancestor for all monarchs after Henry VII. Having lived until the age of 80, this post covers her long and eventful life.

Margaret Beaufort & the Birth of Henry Tudor – Henry VII was born posthumously to a half-Welsh, have-French earl and a 13-year-old who barely survived labor. This post covers the tenuous position in which Margaret Beaufort found herself in the winter of 1457.

Margaret Beaufort & Her Four Husbands – By Margaret’s count, she married three times. By ours, she married four times. A look a the political oscillating required of a successful noblewoman at the heart of the Wars of the Roses and some of the more brutal sacrifices required of them.

When Did Edward IV & Elizabeth Woodville Marry? – The traditional view is that Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville married in May of 1464, however here I lay out why I agree with those who believe it happened a few months later in August or early September.

The Long & Short of Elizabeth Woodville – There’s a lot to cover with Elizabeth Woodville, but this post captures her basic trajectory from the daughter of Lancastrian baron to the Yorkist queen consort.

When Anne Neville Was a Lancastrian – Before she married Richard III, Anne Neville was briefly married to the Lancastrian Prince of Wales. Here we take a look at the dynamics leading up to the marriage, her time in Marguerite of Anjou’s household and the situation in which she was placed once widowed.

The Marriage of Richard III & Anne Neville – Shortly after the death of her first husband, Anne Neville married the future Richard III, but not before a battle royale between him and his brother, George, Duke of Clarence, who was already married to Anne’s sister, Isabel.

The Divorce of Anne of York, Duchess of Exeter – Brother to two Yorkist kings and first married to a Lancastrian, this post covers Richard of York and Cecily Neville’s daughter, Anne, and her eventual divorce from the Duke of Exeter.

The Rise of the Dukes of Norfolk – Though later associated with the House of Tudor, the dukes of Norfolk and the Howard family rose alongside the House of York, a link cemented through the marriage of Thomas Howard and Edward IV’s daughter, Anne of York. This covers the major players until the accession of Henry VIII.

The Accession of Richard III – This post breaks down the convoluted logistics around the death of Edward IV, the arrival of Edward V in London and the eventual proclamation of Richard III as king in the span of a few months.

The Battle of Bosworth – This post covers the Battle of Bosworth, in which Richard III and Henry VII faced off with one another while the Stanley brothers watched from the sidelines, waiting to see for whom they would tip the scale with their reinforcements.

The Question of Elizabeth of York – Like her mother, Elizabeth Woodville, there’s a lot to cover with Elizabeth of York. This post captures key moments in her life as daughter, sister, niece and wife to four kings before her death.

The Last Plantagenet: Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury – Born the daughter of George, Duke of Clarence, Margaret was one of the last royal women to carry Yorkist blood well into the reign of Henry VIII. Her downfall would come during the dissolution of the monasteries and the King’s strife with her son, the last Catholic Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Tudor Myth – This post covers the theory of the “Tudor Myth,” or that the idea that the Tudors were responsible for England’s glory days in direct contrast to the House of York is propaganda. I disagree.

The Upbringing of Katherine of Aragon & Her Siblings – As England was digging itself out of civil war during Henry VII’s reign, Ferdinand and Isabella were leading Spain through a high point in power and prestige. This post covers their five children and their links through England, Portugal and the Holy Roman Empire.

Camelot & the Virginity of Katherine of Aragon – Katherine of Aragon always claimed her marriage to Arthur Tudor wasn’t consummated. Here we take a look at what Arthur Tudor signified during his father’s reign and the importance of Katherine’s presence within the family.

The Union of Tudor & Stuart – Here we take a look at the marriage of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York’s daughter, Margaret, to James IV of Scotland. It is through them that the House of Stuart eventually made its way to the English throne.

What Henry VIII Wanted From Women – Here we play armchair psychologist for Henry VIII and get into how and why this particular king made his way (violently) through six wives.

When Henry VIII Loved Anne Boleyn – Mystery shrouds when and how the relationship between Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn began in the 1520s. This post covers the possibilities and lays out what we do know, and what we can piece together.

The King’s Great Matter: 1527 – A look at the year that kicked off Henry VIII’s divorce from Katherine of Aragon, from the Holy Roman Empire’s sack of Rome to Cardinal Wolsey’s reticence to rule on the marriage for the Pope.

The King’s Great Matter: 1528 – Part Two in a series taking a closer look at the events throughout Europe that dictated the protracted divorce proceedings between Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon.

The King’s Great Matter: 1529 – Part Three in a series taking a closer look at the events throughout Europe that dictated the protracted divorce proceedings between Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon.

The King’s Great Matter: 1530 – Part Four in a series taking a closer look at the events throughout Europe that dictated the protracted divorce proceedings between Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon.

The King’s Great Matter: 1531 – Part Five in a series taking a closer look at the events throughout Europe that dictated the protracted divorce proceedings between Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon.

The King’s Great Matter: 1532 – Part Six in a series taking a closer look at the events throughout Europe that dictated the protracted divorce proceedings between Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon.

The King’s Great Matter: 1533 – Part Seven in a series taking a closer look at the events throughout Europe that dictated the protracted divorce proceedings between Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon.

When Anne Boleyn Became Queen – This post covers the events of 1532 and 1533, Anne Boleyn’s marriage and her introduction to Henry VIII’s court as his second queen.

The English Reformation: 1534 – 1536 – Part Eight in a series taking a closer look at the events throughout Europe that dictated the protracted divorce proceedings between Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon. This post covers its aftermath and the English Reformation.

The Death of Katherine of Aragon – Katherine of Aragon’s death was a far cry from the prestige in which she was born. It also marked a high point for her rival, Anne Boleyn.

The Guilt of Anne Boleyn – Anne Boleyn’s conviction was a complete miscarriage of justice without a single law being broken. Here we look at the case drawn up against her and the mechanics of her fall from grace.

The Death of Anne Boleyn – Perhaps the most famous execution in English history, this post covers Anne Boleyn’s last days in the Tower of London and how Henry VIII spent them.

His “Favorite” Wife: Jane Seymour – This post covers Henry VIII’s third wife, Jane Seymour, from her career as a lady-in-waiting to his first two wives, her brief tenure as queen and the birth of Edward VI.

The Flanders Mare: Anne of Cleves – Here we get into Henry VIII’s fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, and how it came to be that the marriage fell apart under one year, Anne remained amicable with the King and Thomas Cromwell lost power.

The Case of Katherine Howard – Here we discuss the case brought against Katherine Howard, from her premarital relationships to the claim she committed adultery, and question why she is presumed guilty when Anne Boleyn is presumed innocent by history.

Half-Tudor: Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox – Daughter of Henry VIII’s sister, Margaret Tudor, Margaret Douglas was the product of her mother’s second marriage to a Scottish earl. Repeatedly imprisoned for inappropriate relationships at her uncle’s court, Margaret ended up marrying another Scottish earl and bringing about the marriage of her son to Mary, Queen of Scots.

Henry VIII’s Last Execution & His Daughter-in-Law – This post covers Mary Howard, Duchess of Richmond, daughter of the infamous Duke of Norfolk, and her marriage to Henry VIII’s bastard son, Henry Fitzroy, as well as her role in the execution of her brother, the Earl of Surrey.

The [Secretive] Death of Henry VIII – For three days after Henry VIII’s death it was kept secret from court and Parliament as his Council sped about the country preparing for the accession of a nine-year-old.

The Second Man in Elizabeth I’s Life – This post covers the period of time in which Elizabeth Tudor lived in the household of Katherine Parr and Thomas Seymour, and her relationship with the latter.

After Mary: Charles Brandon & Katherine Willoughby – After Mary Tudor’s death, Charles Brandon married again. Katherine Willoughby truly stepped into her own during her widowhood as a devout Reformer at Henry VIII’s court, and even spent a brief stint as a religious exile during the reign of Mary I.

Lady Jane Grey: The Nine Days Queen – Here we cover the dynamics leading up to Jane Grey’s nine-day reign, the rise of the Dudley family and how it was that she ended up executed after a several months-long imprisonment.

The Catholic Alliance: Mary I & Philip II of Spain – Mary I is given a bad shake over her supposed obsessions with her husband, but here we take a look at what actually went down during their marriage and the role of the Spanish in England in the mid-1550s.

The Rise of “Bloody Mary” – A look at the executions of hundreds of Protestants at the stake during Mary’s reign, from the terribly-handled PR disaster that it was to how religion and the counter-reformation was handled by the Queen and her government.

The Phantom Pregnancies of Mary I – Thanks to similar symptoms, Mary I and her doctors repeatedly thought she was pregnant over the course of her marriage. She never was.

The Death of Mary I & the Accession of Elizabeth I – The final days of Mary I’s reign saw a country preparing itself for the succession of the 25-year-old Protestant Elizabeth Tudor. This post covers the days before and immediately after Elizabeth I’s accession.

The Coronation of Elizabeth I – Here we cover the crowning of Elizabeth I, a ceremony in which her favorite, Robert Dudley, played a not insignificant role in planning.

Mary, Queen of Scots at the French Court – Though she was crowned queen of Scotland as an infant, Mary was sent to France in her youth to prepare her for her marriage to the future Francis II. This post covers her childhood and adolescence there, as well as her brief tenure as the French queen consort.

Elizabeth & Robin – This post covers the long and dysfunctional relationship between Elizabeth I and her childhood friend, Robert Dudley, the man she is believed to have come closest to marrying.

The Royal Custody Battle – Before James I ascended the English throne, he and his wife, Anna of Denmark, were locked in a custody battle over their eldest son, Prince Henry. The struggle played out over the 1590s and ended only when James left Scotland for England in 1603.

The Alternate Choice of Arabella Stuart – A Stuart and a Cavendish, Arabella had a distant claim to the English throne and represented an English-born alternative to James I towards the end of Elizabeth’s reign. When she married a Seymour without permission all hell broke loose.

The Almost Spanish Alliance – In 1623, the future Charles I (then Prince of Wales) and James I’s favorite, the Duke of Buckingham, spent several months at the Spanish royal court in the hopes of securing Philip IV’s sister as a bride for Charles. It didn’t work and Spain tried to convert the English prince, but their souvenirs included meeting Rubens and the future Queen Henrietta Maria.

The Assassination of George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham – The Duke of Buckingham was problematic for the reigns of both James I and Charles I, and he met a gory end. Rumored to be James’s lover, he also took on the mantle of “older brother” to Charles, was blamed for England stumbling in its foreign war, and made an enemy of Queen Henrietta Maria.

Catholicism & Stuart England – This post provides an overview of the entire House of Stuart’s relationship to Catholicism, from James I’s Protestantism to Charles I’s and Charles II’s marriages to Henrietta Maria of France and Katherine of Braganza to the rise of James II’s Catholicism through his brother’s reign.

The Flight of Henrietta Maria of France – In the middle of the English Civil War, and a few years before Charles I’s execution, Henrietta Maria secretly fled for France. Leaving behind an infant daughter, she was the first of her family to set up shop on the continent as an exile.

The Other Children of Charles I & Henrietta Maria of France – A look at two of Charles I’s less famous children, Elizabeth Stuart and Henry, Duke of Gloucester. Both were held by Parliament during the English Civil War, but they were the only two of their siblings in England and able to see their father before his execution in 1649.

The First English Princess of Orange – The eldest daughter of Charles I and Queen Henrietta Maria, Mary Stuart, left England for The Hague before the Civil War broke out, however she quickly became detested by the Dutch for her hauteur. An Englishwoman at heart, she was a port in the storm for her brothers during their exile.

Regicide: The Execution of Charles I – This post covers Charles I’s unprecedented execution at the close of the English Civil War and its significance in the history of the monarchy.

The Orleans at the Palais Royal – This post covers the life of Charles I’s youngest child, Henrietta Anne Stuart, who was raised in France and married Louis XIV’s younger brother, the Duke of Orleans. The couple were the toast of Versailles and almost continually embroiled in scandal.

Not So Merry England: Katherine of Braganza at the Court of Charles II – Unable to give her husband a legitimate heir and Catholic in a sea of Protestants, Katherine of Braganza didn’t have an easy go of it in England. Nor was she helped by her husband’s ceaseless line of mistresses. Nevertheless, Charles II refused to divorce her and insisted that she paid all respect as queen.

The Problematic Legacy of Anne Hyde, Duchess of York – Though she became the mother of two queens, Anne Hyde’s marriage to the future James II horrified both his family and hers. Her most lasting contribution to the Stuarts, however, was introducing James to the Catholicism that would eventually undo him.

The Marriage of James II & Mary Beatrice of Modena – Mary Beatrice of Modena arrived in England as a teenager, closer in age to her stepdaughters than her husband, and spent her marriage a threat to the Church of England and on the receiving end of Catholic hysteria.

William & Mary at The Hague – William and Mary of Orange became famous as co-monarchs, however this post covers the first 11 years of their marriage in Holland as they watched the events leading up the Glorious Revolution play out in England.

The Glorious Revolution – After the birth of James II’s son, William of Orange “conquered” England in a matter of weeks without any bloodshed.

The Third Daughter of James II – Born after the Glorious Revolution, Louisa Maria Stuart lived her entire life in France despite her debatable birthright as an English princess.

The Accession of Queen Anne – After eight years of William III’s solo reign, England was ready to be ruled by an Englishman – or rather, woman. Queen Anne’s accession as the first queen regnant to govern without a husband on equal footing was the first to take place since the Tudors and she had a careful line to tread following William’s tenure and the presence of her half-brother abroad.

The Almost Queen: Sophia of the Palatinate – The Germanic House of Hanover came into existence in England thanks to Sophia of the Palatinate, a granddaughter of James I, who had married the Elector of Hanover. In 1700 it became clear the Stuarts would die out and the widowed Sophia saw a second act for herself as the next British queen.

Caroline of Ansbach Before Britain – Caroline survived an abusive stepfather to end up the Queen of Prussia’s favored pet at her court in Berlin. She married into the Hanoverian royal family knowing full well that she would end up the British queen. This post covers her life before her father-in-law’s accession in 1714.

When the Germans Arrived in Britain – The arrival in 1714 of a German royal family in London was as strange as it sounds, particularly after the tenor of the Stuarts’ rule. This post covers the mechanics of George I’s accession and how the British public reacted.

The Accession of George II & Caroline of Ansbach – After 13 years under a man who preferred Hanover to England, the accession of George II & Caroline of Ansbach was a welcome relief. Younger, better-acclimated and parents to a sizable brood of children, the dawn of the next George’s reign had all the hallmarks of turning over a new leaf.

George II & Caroline of Ansbach’s Hatred For Their Eldest Son – Left behind in Hanover when his family moved to England, Frederick grew up separately from his many siblings and, when he finally joined them as Prince of Wales, he wasn’t met with a warm welcome. This post examines his poor relationship with his parents and siblings and the motivating factors for how the situation grew into the disaster it did.

The Georgian Princess Royal: Anne, Princess of Orange – The eldest of George II’s daughter, Anne, the Princess Royal, followed in the footsteps of two Stuart princesses before her by becoming the Princess of Orange. Unfortunately, she was arrogant, unpopular and went out of her way to sow discord with her family.

The Truth-Loving Princess Caroline – This post covers the life of George II and Queen Caroline’s third daughter, who never married and was obsessed with a catty courtier who made a name for himself writing about the inner-workings of her family.

Always a Princess, Never a Queen: Augusta of Saxe-Gotha – Prince Frederick’s adolescent wife, Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, wasn’t an afforded a warm welcome to England, though she became devoted to her husband. This post covers her marriage as Princess of Wales, and then as a young widow raising a batch of princes and princesses as independently as she could.

The [Very] Quiet Rebellion of George & Charlotte – Hoping to undo the damage done by his family’s dysfunction, George III had very firm opinions for what he wanted in a wife and he met his match in Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Though they were criticized for being boring, the two created a happy marriage and brought some level of respectability back to the Royal Family in the years before George’s mental illness set in.

The Socialite: Edward, Duke of York – George III’s younger brother was a pre-cursor to his son, the future George IV. He enjoyed living well, but unfortunately lacked the funds to maintain his preferred quality of life. Such is how he ended up in Monaco without royal permission, leaving behind Lady Mary Coke, who was convinced they had been on the cusp of an engagement.

Prince William & the Walpole Bastard – George III’s younger brother married the illegitimate Maria Walpole for love, destroying his relationship with his brother. The relationship unraveled under the strain of Maria’s pressure to be acknowledged by the Royal Family as William’s wife and duchess.

Scandal, Divorce & Exile: The Life of Caroline Matilda – This post covers the life of George III’s youngest sister, Caroline Matilda, who became the queen of Denmark. Thanks to mental illness and infidelity, her marriage to Christian VII ended in divorce and imprisonment. The entire sad affair was said to have scared George III away from the idea of ever marrying his daughters abroad.

The Madness of George III & the Regency – George III’s first bout with mental illness scarred his wife and damaged Queen Charlotte’s relationship with the Prince of Wales. This post covers the beginning of the end of George III’s reign and the unraveling of his family in the aftershock.

Maria Fitzherbert, George IV’s Catholic Wife – When the Prince of Wales, the future George IV fell in love with a Catholic widow and secretly married her. Here we cover the couple’s tumultuous and uneven relationship, spanning decades before and after the Prince’s legitimate marriage to Caroline of Brunswick.

Queen Victoria’s Father: Edward, Duke of Kent – A rundown of the life of Queen Victoria’s father and George III’s fourth son, Edward, Duke of Kent. Devoted to the military, in love with his long-time mistress and almost constantly in debt, he was a fairly typical Hanoverian prince.

The Private Life of Princess Augusta – The second of George III’s daughters, Augusta’s personal life was a series of disappointments, however there is some evidence that she may have forged a secret marriage without her family’s permission.

Ernest & Frederica: The “Sinister” Cumberlands – It would seem unlikely that both halves of a royal couple would come under suspicion of murder, but meet the Duke and Duchess of Cumberland. This post takes a look at their marriage and their unfortunate relationship with the British Royal Family.

The Sussex Marriages – A son of George III, Augustus followed the House of Hanover prescription for a younger prince who entered the military and took on two marriages without the permission of his father or brother.

The Independent Beauty of Mary, the Duchess of Gloucester – Considered the most beautiful of George III’s daughters, Mary didn’t marry until she was 40, and even then it was to a cousin with whom she had a mostly unhappy marriage. As a widow she found some peace thanks to a newfound independence and a good relationship with her family.

Did George III’s Daughter Have an Illegitimate Son? – Princess Sophia, one of George III’s younger daughters, is believed to have secretly given birth to an illegitimate son following an illicit relationship with Colonel Thomas Garth. A rundown of the evidence and how this period of her life plagued her well into her old age is captured in this post.

The Poorly-Kept Secrets of Princess Amelia – Amelia was George III’s youngest daughter and reportedly the most beloved. She was plagued throughout her life by poor health and her death in 1810 is believed to have triggered her father’s final descent into insanity. There are also rumors that she secretly married an equerry with whom she was in love, but was considered an unsuitable match for a princess.

Before Victoria: Princess Charlotte of Wales – The product of her parents’ unhappy marriage, Charlotte grew up as a future queen regnant of Britain. Rebellious, bored and outspoken, she had a rocky adolescence until she finally settled on Leopold of Saxe-Coburg as a husband. In many ways, there are interesting parallels between her and her first cousin, the future Queen Victoria.

The Royal Marriage Race of 1818 – When Princess Charlotte prematurely died, three of her uncles raced to the altar with German Protestant princesses in the hopes of securing the succession. It was undignified, to say the least, but it did produce Queen Victoria.

The Example of Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen – Adelaide was plucked from obscurity in 1818 to marry George III’s third son, the future William IV. She eventually became queen consort and was, in many ways, a model for good behavior among the dramatics of her royal in-laws.

Albert’s Mother: Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg – Meanwhile, in Coburg…a look at Prince Albert’s mother, Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, her unhappy marriage and her eventual banishment from the family home. To say this had an impact on Albert would be an understatement.

All That Gossip: Queen Victoria & Lord M – Once she ascended the throne at age 18, Queen Victoria forged a close relationship with her first Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne. So close, in fact, that some believed there to be romantic feelings on one or both sides. Regardless, it was a mentorship that helped solidify Victoria’s political views and taught her how to rule.

The Courtship, Engagement & Wedding of Victoria & Albert – Here we take a look at how a young Queen Victoria, with little interest in marrying, ended up falling in love with and marrying Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, a German cousin with whom she had not previously been impressed.

Victoria, Albert & That Newlywed Life – Despite mutual affection, if not adoration, the first three years of Victoria and Albert’s marriage were volatile thanks to an ongoing power struggle and a precarious balancing act between public and private.

Vicky, Fritz & the Fate of the German Empire – Victoria and Albert’s eldest daughter, Vicky, married the future Emperor Frederick III of Germany. Compared to her Prussian in-laws, Vicky was too foreign and too liberal to be trusted, and thanks to Fritz not reaching the “top job” for another 30 years, the couple were never able to carry out their plans to modernize Germany.

Kaiser Wilhelm II’s Britishness (& Left Arm) – Queen Victoria’s eldest grandchild was the future Kaiser Wilhelm II. This post takes a look at his poor relationship with his mother, Empress Frederick, and his complex relationship with his British family and his own British heritage.

Edward VII, Nellie Clifden & a Huge Overreaction – In 1860, Queen Victoria’s eldest son embarked on a relationship with an “actress” just as his parents decided it was time for him to take a wife. When Victoria & Albert found out, their reaction was a bit over the top.

The Death of Prince Albert – On December 14, 1861, Queen Victoria’s husband died and her 40-year widowhood began. It was a turning point in Victoria’s reign, and one which would have a huge impact on the trajectory of the Royal Family.

The Marriage of Bertie & Alix – Edward VII and Alexandra of Denmark spent 38 years together as the Prince and Princess of Wales, before taking on the “top jobs.” This post covers their marriage and how they handled the long wait.

The English Duke & the Romanov Bride – The marriage of Queen Victoria’s fourth child, Prince Alfred, with Marie of Russia began romantically and ended tragically. This post covers their courtship and relationship, which saw them move from Kent to Malta to Coburg.

Edward VII & Mrs. Keppel – Alice Keppel is the most famous of Edward VII’s mistresses, but may in fact never had a physical relationship with him. This post takes a look at how they met, and the relationship they maintained through the tail end of Bertie’s tenure as Prince of Wales and brief reign.

Albert Victor, Mary of Teck & Jack the Ripper – Before marrying the future George V, Mary of Teck was married to his elder brother, the Duke of Clarence, a man who has inspired conspiracy theories that he is none other than Jack the Ripper. It’s a quick look at their engagement and the man that was almost king.

Bertie’s Daughter: Queen Maud of Norway – Edward VII’s second daughter unexpectedly became the queen of a newly-independent Norway, and while reluctant, she was crucial to the country’s development and identity in the 20th century.

Sophie of Prussia: The German Queen of the Hellenes – Daughter of Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter, Empress Frederick of Germany, Sophie married into the Greek Royal Family, served as queen during the tumult of World War I and ended her days in exile on the continent. A poor relationship with her brother, Kaiser Wilhelm II, certainly didn’t help, nor did it erase suspicious around her German heritage.

Vicky’s Daughters, the Kaiser’s Sisters: Margaret of Prussia – The youngest daughter of Princess Victoria (Empress Frederick) was the closest to her mother of all her siblings, however half of her sons would end up joining the Nazi Party and one of them would marry Sophie of Greece and Denmark, sister of today’s Duke of Edinburgh.

Daisy: Margaret of Connaught, Crown Princess of Sweden – Arthur, Duke of Connaught’s daughter married the Crown Prince of Sweden, but despite a happy marriage and a plethora of children, she tragically died young. One of her cousins would end up serving as queen consort.

The Marriage of Nicky & Alix – A look at the marriage of Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra of Russia in the years prior to the 1917 revolution, including the interconnection of the Romanovs with the royals families of Britain, Greece, Denmark and Germany.

The York Children – George V and Mary of Teck were many things, but natural parents they were not. This post provides a rundown of their children’s upbringing when their father was second-in-line and then heir to the throne.

George, Mary & Britain’s Last Delhi Durbar – George V and Mary of Teck traveled to India for a traditional Indian coronation shortly after their first crowning in Westminster Abbey. It was a politically sensitive, ornate display of Britain’s presence in the country, and the last of its kind for the BRF.

Mary, Princess Royal & Countess of Harewood – George V’s only daughter, Mary, did the “Princess thing” right. Appropriate and hard-working, she played her part in the BRF with little fuss, save an unrelenting loyalty to her brother, Edward VIII.

The Assassination of Nicholas II & Alexandra – The assassination of Nicholas II of Russia and his family is one of the most pivotal moments in royal history around the world. It profoundly shook Europe in the middle of World War I, all the more so because of the Romanovs’ blood ties to so many royal houses, including Britain’s.

The Queen’s Birth, 92 Years Ago Today – When Queen Elizabeth was born she held the same rank that Princess Beatrice of York does today, and was in no way expected to someday wear the crown. A look at what was going on in the BRF and in London back in 1926.

The Three Proposals of George VI to the Queen Mother – The Queen Mother rejected George VI’s marriage proposal not once, but twice. The third time was the charm, but here we take a look at their courtship, the Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon’s hesitation and the future king’s patience.

George, Marina & the 1934 Royal Wedding – Princess Marina, the Duchess of Kent, was the first glamorous figure of her generation in the British Royal Family and, in many ways, a throwback to a kind of “princess” that we rarely see anymore.

England’s Most Awkward Dinner Party – It wasn’t received well by the future Queen Mother when her relationship with Edward VIII was compared to the Wars of the Roses at a dinner party. It was almost as socially unacceptable as the King gaming out his marriage to Wallis Simpson in light of how George IV had handled his relationship with his secret, Catholic wife, Maria Fitzherbert.

The Abdication Crisis of 1936 – A look at the weeks and days that brought about Edward VIII’s historic and shocking decision to abdicate the throne for Wallis Simpson.

The Death of George, Duke of Kent – The premature death of George VI’s younger brother, the Duke of Kent, was so shocking that it’s stemmed conspiracy theories for decades.

Victoria Eugenie: The English Queen of Spain – Princess Beatrice’s daughter, Victoria Eugenie, became queen consort of Spain, but the political climate of the 1920s and early 1930s became untenable, prompting her husband to abdicate. For the next few decades, she lived throughout Europe, including her beloved England, hoping for the eventual restoration of her family to the throne. It came, but unfortunately she wouldn’t live to see her grandson, Juan Carlos, proclaimed king.

The Birth of Prince Charles – A look back at the birth of the now-Prince of Wales. A lot has changed in royal births since the 1940s…and a lot hasn’t.

The Real Princess Margaret & Captain Peter Townsend – Long before her ill-fated marriage to Antony Armstrong-Jones, George VI’s younger daughter, Princess Margaret, fell in love with an equerry in her family’s employ. His status as a divorced man made their marriage impossible, but they came daringly and publicly close.

When the Kennedys Met the Windsors – The Kennedys and the Windsors came face-to-face in 1961 for a perfect intersection of mid-century glamour, albeit of two very different brands. A look at the couples’ meeting and subsequent relationship.

The Unnecessary War of the Snowdons – George VI’s daughter, Princess Margaret, married for love, but it didn’t end well. In fact, it was the first divorce of a senior member of the Royal Family in generations. A look at the Snowdons’ volatile relationship, where it went wrong and how they handled the fallout.

Charles at Gordonstoun – The Prince of Wales’s time at boarding school has become equal parts fact and myth – here we take a look at what’s actually on the record from his school days.

The Royal Wedding of 1981: Charles & Diana – It was the royal wedding to end all royal weddings, and to a certain extent that’s still true today. A look back at the day, the excitement and how the event was covered at the time.

The Other Tour of Italy – A rundown of the Prince and Princess of Wales’s 1985 tour of Italy, from the fashion to the inclusion of their two young sons to the fleeting sense of family togetherness.

The Implications of Charles & Diana’s Divorce – Charles’s relationship with Diana aside, the questions raised by their 1996 divorce were extraordinary for the time, particularly since the Prince of Wales would have become the first divorced monarch since George I in the 18th century.

The Death of Queens – Plans are necessarily in place for the figurative earthquake that the Queen’s passing will someday bring – here we examine what we know about those, as well as the 2002 passing of the Queen Mother.

Home & Dry: Charles & Camilla 12 Years On – Everyone has an opinion on the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, so here we take a look back at their 2005 wedding, what it meant and how things stand today.

A Look Back at William & Kate’s Engagement – 2010 is history now, right? Either way, this is a quick rundown of Cambridges’ engagement interview and the first time most of the world ever heard the now-Duchess speak.